Sally Conway only Scot in GB Olympic judo team

Edinburgh judoka Sally Conway is the only Scot in the seven-strong Great Britain judo team for Rio.

It will be Conway’s second Olympics, having competed at London 2012 and reward for her performances after winning bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

She also struck bronze in the Under-70kg class at the Paris Grand Slam earlier this year and followed up with fifth places at the European Championships in Russia and the World Masters in Mexico. Conway is ranked 13th in the world after climbing to a career-high sixth earlier this season.

There is no place for Edinburgh club-mate and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Sarah Adlington, currently ranked 30th in the world, or Edinburgh-based English judoka Gemma Gibbons who won a silver at London 2012.

Colin Oates, also based in Edinburgh, will compete in the Under-66kg event after placing seventh in London four years ago.

“It’s always an honour to represent your country on the international stage and it doesn’t get any bigger than the Olympic Games,” he said.

“London was an amazing experience but I’ve put that to the back of my mind. I’m feeling good going into Rio, I’ve picked up some big medals in the last few years including silver at the Europeans this year and I’m confident that I can put in my best possible performance on the day.”

Ashley McKenzie (Under-60kg) is also going to his second Olympics and Benjamin Fletcher (Under-100kg), and making their Olympic debuts will be Natalie Powell (Under-78kg), former Israeli internationalist Alice Schlesinger (Under-63kg) and Nekoda Smythe-Davis (Under-57kg).

“The team have earned their place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games over a tough and intensive two-year qualification period and have produced some fantastic results,” said Nigel Donohue, British Judo performance director.

“They have performed at a high standard and medalled and placed at European Championships, Grand Slams and Grand Prix with consistent wins against players in the World Top 10.

“We profiled the world’s best over the last cycle to understand what it takes to win at an Olympic Games and we wanted to qualify athletes who have a real chance of performing and potentially medalling.

“We are ready for the Games and believe in this team and that every one of them can produce their best possible performance in Rio with the support of their coaches and world-class support team.”

Trending

Passengers left in shock after ‘man punches woman in face’ on Edinburgh bus

Boxer who raped blind Moredun mum after she tripped and fell faces life sentence

These are all the mobile speed camera locations in Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians